JONATHAN RAY organises an impromptu tasting of Blue Nun and Black Tower for David Roberts MW. Rays find the Blue Nun just this side of harmless', but Roberts is downcast': I just think it's sad. Germany produces some of the finest white wines in the world, but you wouldn't think so given this evidence.' Ray then meets Ernst Loosen, who took over his family's Mosel estates in the late 1980s. Everyone thought I was mad,' he tells Ray, trying to sell Riesling when all that people wanted to drink was New World Chardonnay. It was so frustrating and nobody wanted to know. But 20 years' hard work has paid off, and I truly believe there has been a renaissance and that Riesling, especially German Riesling, is fashionable once again.'
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JOANNA SIMON admits that a supermarket buyer once approached her and begged her to promote Riesling in her wine columns. I'm not here to help supermarkets or anyone else sell their wines, but I would like to see people drink more Riesling. In blind tastings, Riesling always comes out well, but when people know what they are drinking, it is blighted by its own image: Riesling is still viewed as unsophisticated, sweet, insipid.' She recommends 2003 Great Southern Riesling (4.19 until 10 May; Tesco); 2003 Jacob's Creek Reserve Riesling (7.97; selected Asda from 7 May); and 2003 Urziger Wrzgarten Riesling Alte Reben Trocken , Rebenhof (14.99; The Winery, Liberty Wines).
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California sales may be going from strength to strength in the UK, but JANE MacQUITTY isn't impressed: Gallo's evil Sierra Valley range and Blossom Hill's foul, sickly-sweet, non-vintage duo are depressing enough, but flying off the shelves even faster are the sweeter pink or blush styles sold as white Zinfandel, with residual sugar levels easily as high as the once-popular Germans. White Zinfandel, Lord help us, is the new Liebfraumilch or Piesporter Michelsberg.' She doesn't rate the 16 Benchmark Wines, but does have time for Ravenswood's 2002 Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel (6.99; Waitrose); 2002 Fetzer Valley Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon (6.99; Co-op, Sainsbury's); and 2002 Avantegarde Pinot Noir (13.99; Asda).
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MATTHEW JUKES' favourite fizzes include 1996 Alfred Gratien (35; The Wine Society); NV Larmandier-Bernier, Terre de Vertus, Premier Cru, Non-Dos (21.50; Vine Trail); and his Wine of the Week is NV A. Margaine Brut (17; The Flying Corkscrew).
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TIM ATKIN MW got more than he bargained for when visiting the Hunter Valley a few years ago. When his glass of Shiraz was full of sediment, the man at the counter told him: Jeez, I'm sorry mate. That wine's been throwing a deposit recently. I usually run it through my wife's pantihose before we serve it.' Atkin says most red wines benefit from decanting, particularly those made with reductive' varieties like Syrah and Grenache, and that it is akin to opening a window in a stuffy room'.
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The cost of producing wine in Argentina is seven to 10 times cheaper than in France, according to ANTHONY ROSE. But why is the country playing second fiddle to its Andean rival Chile? At the time when Chile made its presence felt in the UK, Argentina was still making oceans of plonk, and old-fashioned oxidised plonk at that. With a fragmented industry of 1,200 wine companies compared with Chile's 200, Argentina lacks economies of scale, and it's only since the mid-1990s that it has come out of its shell.'
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After berating her mother for serving her a G&T with a manky slice of lemon, VICTORIA MOORE recommends 1999 Pewsey Vale The Contours Museum Reserve Riesling (10.99; Oddbins Fine Wine, Roberson's, Philglas & Swiggot, Premier Vintners); 2003 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc (6.99; Sainsbury's, Waitrose); and 2003 Les Bastions Ros, Ctes de Saint-Mont, Gascony (4.99; Adnams).
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To accompany Chinese food, GILES KIME selects 2004 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Gris (6.99; Waitrose); 2004 Cono Sur Pinot Noir (4.99; Majestic); and 2003 Via Floriana Chardonnay (3.99, Sainsbury's).
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Islay malt whisky Laphroaig is holding a webcast at 8pm on Wednesday June 18.
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Robert Parker, the famed wine critic and pioneer of the widely-regarded 100-point system, says cost is not always the driving factor and he is "just a wine lover".
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Absolut Vodka has launched its first UK television advertising campaign.
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The annual Drambuie Pursuit across the Scottish highlands has been won by a US team.
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The Japanese whisky market shows no signs of abating with premium single malts driving sales.
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A US man, who produces Rattlesnake vodka, has been arrested for selling liquor without a licence.
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To accompany its recent website launch, Bowmore Whisky has launched a new digital campaign featuring a series of short films.
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Shivaun Lucey, Global Brand Director for Bushmills Irish Whiskey, spoke to Harpers TV about the distillery's 400-year anniversary plans for 2008.
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Harpers' first French podcast, produced in association with Thierry's, covers March's 'France under One Roof Tasting' at Lord's Cricket Ground.
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Harpers' latest podcast, produced in association with Wines of Australia, covers January's Australia Tastings at the Emirates Stadium.
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Richard Siddle, Harpers' editor, speaks to Chris Scott from the UK Wine Show, on Harpers relaunch in May 2007 and what the future holds for both the magazine and website.
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Pancho Campo, president of the Wine Academy of Spain and organiser of the series of Climate Change and Wine Conferences, spoke to Harpers TV.
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